Many foreigners find the experience of visiting
Japanese salons to be frustrating and
disappointing, that's maybe because they 
can't communicate with the hairdresser
who doesn't speak much English.  

Here is the list of English speaking Hair-salons
which is preffered by expatriates:

Pets are like your family. 
When they get sick, you worry about them, don't you?
Especially living in a foreign country, 
people do not understand much English,
you will become more anxious...



Below, Veterinary Clinic / Animal Hospital in Tokyo
with English speaking veterinarians:

Akasaka Animal Hospital
Akabashi Bldg. 2F. 4-1-29, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-3583-5852
http://www.akasaka-ah.com
 
Athena Pet Care Clinic
6-15-15, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-3224-1186
http://www.athena-ah.net/about_en.html

Kobayashi Pet Hospital
6-8-1, Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-3400-5737
http://aoyama-pet-clinic.com/

Small Animal Clinic
6-5-27, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-5786-2928

Angell Memorial Hiroo Center Animal Hospital
Hiroo Yutaka Towers, 5-24-1, Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-5420-0012
http://www.daktari.gr.jp/english/hospital/hiroo/index.html

Hiro Animal Hospital (Mon Tou Tou)
2-34-20, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
03-3478-0925
http://www.montoutou.co.jp/hiro/index.html

Centerville Animal Hospital
1-15-18, Jiyugaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-3724-1013
http://centerville.jp/

Komazawa Park Animal Hospital
5-9-23, Yagumo, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-3717-3939
http://www004.upp.so-net.ne.jp/KOANIMAL/

Garden Animal Hospital
4-6-3, Naka-Meguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-3794-4970

Yamatedori Hospital
3-3-2, Meguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
http://www.daktari.gr.jp/english/hospital/yamate/index.html

Yasuda Veterinary Clinic
1-5-22, Midorigaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-3717-6168

Tokyo Animal Night Clinic
2-5-8, Hiratsuka, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-5702-0012
Please note : Hours from 9PM - 5AM

North Animal Clinic
5-12-3, Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-3446-1212
http://www005.upp.so-net.ne.jp/north/

Pet Family Animal Hospital
2-31-6-103, Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-3495-0171
http://www.jpc-co.jp/pet-hospital/gotanda.html

Nagaiki Animal Hospital
5-15-2, Komazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-3704-6711
http://www.nagaiki.co.jp/index.html

Genki Animal Hospital
5-7-10, Shimouma, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-5486-2211

Koide Animal Hospital
6-9-3, Todoroki, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-3702-9009


VETS / ANIMAL HOSPITAL IN YOKOHAMA AREA

Meister Animal Hospital
1-3, Chiyozaki-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa
Tel: 045-622-0201

Ann Animal Hospital
10-24 Azuma-cho, Isogo-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa
Tel: 045-753-6656
http://www.annvet.net/ann's%20room.htm

For information about Real Estate in Tokyo, click here.
For information about Furniture Lease & Sales in Tokyo, click here.

If you are looking for an English speaking babysitter or
housekeeper in Tokyo, you may find ads in
International Supermarket such as
National Azabu Supermarket in Hiroo.

Also there are some companies specialize in housekeeping
and babysitting service in Tokyo:

Chez Vous - Housekeeping & Babysitting Service
http://www.chezvous.co.jp/

Poppins - Nanny Service
http://www.poppins.co.jp/english/baby/index.html

Alpha Kid's Club - Baby-sitter Service
http://www.alpha-co.com/english/ak.html

Kinder-Network
http://www.kinder-network.com/english.html

We hope this information is useful to start 
your new life in Tokyo!









For information about Real Estate in Tokyo, click here.
For information about Furniture Lease & Sales in Tokyo, click here.

Part 3. Rent-a-car

To rent a car in Japanese, the following items are required.
* Driver’s license valid in Japan
* Passport
* Credit card

When a customer rents a car:
1.        Making reservation
Though you can reserve a car by calling a reservation center
of leasing company or by visiting a branch location directly,
it will be easier and convenient for you to reserve a car through a
reservation center because you can talk to a person who can speak
English. There is few company’s staff to speak English at branch offices.

The following information should be given to the company’ staff
of a reservation center.

- Your name
- Phone number for contact
- Departure or arrival date and time
- Location for departure and for arrival
- Desired options (4WD vehicle, or other features)
- Number of passengers riding on the car
   If there is a child under 6 years of age, a child seat will be provided.

2.       When coming to a location:
- Tell that the clerk that you have a reservation.
- A contract will be prepared, which you should check
  and sign.
- Prepay an estimated amount
- Check the car for scratches and dents, etc. and cleanliness.

3.  When returning a car:
- Fill the tank with fuel at a nearby gas station or pay at the
  return location for the gas used as determined by the
  calculation formula based on the mileage.
- Check if any personal effects are left inside the car and
  return the car to the scheduled rental location.
- Together with a rental location staff member, check the car
  for scratches, dents, etc.
  If you used the car longer than originally scheduled,
  then pay the additional amount.

4.  Reservation changes and cancellation
Inform the company’s staff in advance of reservation change
and cancellation. Cancellation charges will be required if you
cancel your reservation after the deadline before a date for departure.
Moreover, if you do not contact the rental location even after one hour
has passed form predetermined time, the reservation shall be regarded
as cancelled.

For information about Real Estate in Tokyo, click here.
For information about Furniture Lease & Sales in Tokyo, click here.

Part 2. Leasing

What is a car lease?
It is a system to lease a car in accordance by a contract between
the leasing company and the user at a certain price for a certain period.
The concept of the lease is a separation of ownership and use.
It is a system covering financing, taxes, insurance and
maintenance in a package.

You could obtain the following merits by arranging a car by leasing.
1)       By setting the residual value at the end of the lease contract,
      your monthly payment will be mitigated and become easier
      to switch to a higher-ranking car.
2)       Depending on leasing company, you can lease your desired
      car model from various carmakers, including imported
      foreign cars. So you will be able to have your option to
      choose your favorite new car.  When you want to lease a
      second-hand car, you may ask a person in charge if
      the company is able to provide such a service.
3)       You can take advantage of the vehicle discount deriving from
      the large car fleet of leasing company.
4)       Without a down payment, you can lease a car,
      depending on the car price. You may pay only a monthly
      leasing fee. You can also use a monthly payment method
      jointly with payments at the time of salary bonuses payment.
      Calculation of monthly leasing fee
      (Car cost + Miscellaneous expenses
       + Interest – Residual value) / Leasing period.
5)       You can include car insurance into the leasing fee.

Your option after the contract termination. 
You can have the following options after the end of the contract
in case of the open-end contract.
1)       Switch to a new car.
      A car under the current lease will be allotted as a trade-in car.
      The residual value (the expected sales price) and the actual
      trade-in price will be offset, easing your financial burden in
      the next contact of new car.
2)       Extension (Renewal)
      You can extend the contract at the leasing price calculated on
      the basis of the residual value.
3)       Return
      The leasing company collects the car and the balance of
       the residual value and assessed value will be settled.
4)       Purchase
      You can purchase the car at the price agreed at the outset.
      Expenses for name change, automobile tax, income tax, etc
      will be borne by you separately.

Open-end contract
It is a contract to settle the balance between the assessed value
and the purchasing price (the residual value)

Closed-end contract
It is a contract not to settle the balance between the assessed value
and purchasing price (the residual value)
Lease contracts with companies are usually made based on this contract.

For information about Real Estate in Tokyo, click here.
For information about Furniture Lease & Sales in Tokyo, click here.

NEW TRAVEL INFORMATION SITE

Japan's largest travel agency JTB (Japan Travel Bureau)
has opened their new web-site JAPANiCAN.com
on the 18th, April 2007.

This site contains 1,000 hotels selected for
foreign tourists out of the 8,000 facilities with which
JTB has contracts, as well as 100 tour courses
the firm conducts for non-Japanese visitors.
(from Nikkei Net) 

Just click the name of city you are interested,
you can check the weather, detailed information
about the area, and a map all in English.

Catching a taxi in central Tokyo is not so hard.
There are about 50,000 taxis operated in Tokyo.
The maximum number of passengers per
standard size taxi (sedan) is 4.


HOW TO CATCH A TAXI

Major stations or hotels, they have cabstand.
If you go to the main street, you will be able to
catch one quite easily.  (at night with rain, right after
the pay-day (most of people get paid on the 25th or
15th for government worker),  and the time after the
last train sometimes hard to catch one.)

First, you look for a taxi with the top lights on,
also with red sign says 'Kusha'. (*see the sign below)
ku=empty sha=car; means vacant




Then just raise your hand. 
(Look at the driver like you really want him to stop!)

The minimum fee starts from 660 yen for the first 2km.
(some private taxi companies only charge 650 yen.)
After 2km, the charge will be added 80 yen per 1km.

There will be 20%-30% extra charge after 11pm until 5am,
it is called 'shinya warimashi ryokin.' (late-night-charge).  
And the sign looks like this:



 
*So if you are looking for a taxi after 11pm,
you'll see this sign.

*Please click here to check new taxi fare & rule.


OTHER TAXI SIGNS

1. Chinsou - no vacancy




2. Kaisou - out of service




3. Geisha or Yoyakusha - reserved, on a way for pick-up




4. Kashikiri - reserved for certain amount of time





TAXI CONVERSATION
When you get in a taxi, you will be asked:

Driver: "Where would you like to go?"
              Dochira made?

You: "Please take me to Roppongi 3-chome".
         Roppongi san-chome made onegai shimasu.

Driver: "Ceretainly."
            Kashikomari mashita.

Giving directions

You: "Please turn left at the next corner."
         Tsugi no kado wo hidari ni magatte kudasai.
        (or Tsugi no kado hidari desu.)

        "Please stop just before the traffic lights."
         Shingou no temae de tomete kudasai.

        "My apartment (house) is right on the next corner."
        Watashi no apato (ie) wa tsugi no kado desu.

        "Please stop here."
         Koko de tomete kudasai.

        "How much?"
        Ikura desuka?

        "Please give me a receipt."
        Ryoshusho wo kudasai / Reshiito wo kudasai.

WORDS
        Right: Migi
        Left: Hidari
        Straight: Massugu
        Turn: Magaru
        Stop: Tomaru
        Here: Koko
        There: Asoko
        This: Kore
        That: Are
        It: Sore
        I'm in a hurry: Isoide imasu.
        Please drive faster: Isoide kudasai.


TAXI RESERVATION

You can reserve a taxi in English with these companies: 

1. Nihon Kotsu
    Reservation: 03-5755-2336
    24hours, 365 days on line in English       
http://www.nihon-kotsu.co.jp/en/taxi/ephone.html

2. Tokyo MK Taxi
    Reservation: 03-5547-5551
    Credit card accepted.  Larger size taxis available.
http://www.tokyomk.com/eng/index.html

3. Hello Tokyo Taxi
    Reservation: 050-3160-0601 (8am - 8pm)
    or 03-5653-7921 (Japanese only)
    Larger size taxis available.
http://www.hello-tokyo.co.jp/english/index.htm